Tool change system for a machine

ABSTRACT

An atomizer or other tool is fastened to a fixed part (F) of a robot of a coating installation by a pneumatic lock that can only be released automatically during storage of the tool by an external control device installed in a tool change station ( 10 ).

DESCRIPTION

[0001] The invention concerns a tool change system for a machine with anautomatically (multiaxis) moveable tool according to the preamble of theindependent claim. In particular, a robot can be involved and its toolcan be an atomizer for series coating of workpieces, like vehiclebodies.

[0002] Tool change systems for painting robots, whose atomizer isfastened to a flange that forms the releaseable part, which is securedby pneumatic forces on a machine flange forming the fixed part, arestate of the art. To release the atomizer, an air connection is operatedby the robot itself for opening of a closure cylinder of the atomizerchange device of the robot. This air supply by the robot itself can leadto unintentional release of the atomizer possibly during the coatingoperation during improper control, which not only results in mechanicaldamage and failure of the coating unit, but also results in aninadmissible hazard of explosion by separation of the electricalconnections of the electrostatic atomizer.

[0003] The task of the invention is a tool change system in which thehazard of unintentional opening of the tool change device of the machineis reliably prevented.

[0004] This task is achieved by the features of the claims.

[0005] In the system described here, the tool change device contained inthe machine can only be opened when the tool is reliably fixed in theexternal change station and coupled to the connections there. The toolin coating installations, in addition to an atomizer, can also be othertools, like hood openers, measurement devices, etc. It is also importantin electrostatic painting robots or other coating machines that theatomizer be additionally grounded during loosening of its mouth byopening of the change device.

[0006] Control of the air connection expediently accessible on theoutside of the robot or other machine can occur automatically in thechange station, for example, with a compressed air signal or possibly byopening of the closure. The outer lying air connection has theadditional advantage that, if necessary, rapid manual separation of thetool from the machine is also possible by means of a device similar to amanual air pump.

[0007] As an embodiment of the invention, the carousel-like changestation for atomizers and other tools of a coating installation forseries coating of vehicle bodies described in DE 101 15 470 isconsidered. In the drawing FIG. 1 shows the mounting plate of the changestation; and

[0008]FIG. 2 shows the flange part of an atomizer insertable into themounting plate.

[0009] The mounting plate 10 has six storage places 12 for thechangeable (not shown) atomizer and/or other tools, like hood openers,measurement devices, etc., whose flange part 11 releasable from fixedpart (F) of the machine, for example, a painting robot, is securedduring operation to the fixed part of the robot by a pneumatic closurecylinder.

[0010] The storage places 12 are formed by fork-like recesses into whichthe flange part 11 of the tools separable by the robot can be introducedin the direction of arrow 12′. A tool holder 19 mounted to float in allthree spatial axes preferably has media connections 13 for air, rinsingagents and other operating media, identification devices 15 and anadjustable spring-loaded bolt 18. During insertion of the flange parts11 into the storage places 12, air connections 14 arranged on flangeparts 11 (FIG. 2) that are closed in the uncoupled state and opened whencoupled to the connections 13, are connected to connections 13. Theconnections 13 can also serve for grounding of the atomizer. Theidentification devices 15 of the storage places are connected duringinsertion of the atomizer to inserts 53 replaceably arranged in flangepart 11 for type recognition. The flange part 11 also has a centeringdevice 17 that engages in an adjustable spring-loaded bolt 18 duringinsertion of flange part 11 into the storage place 12. Interaction ofbolt 18 with the centering device 17 serves for position fixation offlange part 11 in the normal direction of the mounting plate 10. Theelements apparent at 20 are a device formed, for example, by ball-checkelements for centering of the storage fork in a prescribed position in aprism insert.

1. Tool change system for a machine with an automatically moveable tooland a tool change device formed by a fixed part (F) mounted on themachine and a part (11) carrying the tool that is releasable from it, inwhich the releasable part (11) is fastened to the fixed part (F) by apneumatic lock that can be released by operation of an air connection ofthe machine, with an external change station (10) startable by themachine, on which the tool is automatically released and removed by themachine, characterized by the fact that the air connection can beoperated by an external control device (13) installed in the changestation (10) during storage of the tool.
 2. Tool change system accordingto claim 1, characterized by the fact that the tool is only releasablefrom the fixed part (F) automatically when the releasable part (11) iscoupled to the air connections (13) of the change station (10).
 3. Toolchange system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact thatthe tool is an atomizer of a coating installation that is groundedduring coupling to the connections (13) of the change station (10) bythis station.
 4. Tool change system according to one of the claims 1 to3, characterized by the fact that the air connection of the machine isautomatically controllable in change station (10).
 5. Tool change systemaccording to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatthe air connection (13) is accessible from the outside.
 6. Tool changesystem according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by thefact that the external control device contains an air supply connection(13) that is situated in a rotatable and/or linearly moveable mountingplate (10) of the tool change device into which the tool can be removed.7. Tool change system according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 6,characterized by the fact that the releasable part is a flange (11) ofthe tool.